Dear Parents,
There is only one way I can start this newsletter, and that's to tell you all that...it's arrived! No, not St Patrick's Day, although that is exciting, and I loved our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors' Assembly based on the theme of St Patrick's story.
The moment that has arrived is the delivery of our Independent Schools Inspectorate report. I'm not exaggerating when I say that when it dropped in my inbox I literally ran down the corridor telling everyone to check their emails. I am beyond proud of my teachers, my children, my support staff, my governors and parents and perhaps even a little proud of myself! We have worked together to create something beautiful.
So many comments pop out of the report, I don't even know where to begin in sharing it with you all. But here we go, here are a few of my favourite quotes:
- Pupils demonstrate exceptionally positive attitudes towards their learning, working diligently and collaboratively to reach their goals.
- Pupils are excellent communicators. They speak articulately and confidently, write with high levels of competence, read fluently and listen attentively.
- Pupils make rapid progress from their starting points, achieving high levels of knowledge and understanding in most subjects by the time they leave.
- Pupils achieve well in a broad range of activities beyond the classroom, particularly in sport and performing arts.
- Pupils show strong levels of self-confidence, perseverance and motivation to work hard and improve their learning.
- Pupils respond positively to the cultural diversity within the school and have a mature understanding of the benefits of working with those from different backgrounds and faiths.
- Pupils' behaviour is exemplary; they are kind, caring and courteous towards each other.
- Pupils willingly and enthusiastically take on many leadership roles and make a strong contribution to the school.
I could go on...but I won't, I'll let you make a drink and sit back and read the whole thing at your leisure! It will soon be arriving in your inbox, and it is also available on our website.
I would also like to just say another huge thank you to all the children who stayed on both to take extra classes after school for our Open Evening and to those who acted as tour guides. The feedback from prospective parents was outstanding - with one guest saying: "Our student guides brilliantly enriched us with the nitty gritty of the school." I think this sums us up perfectly. We're honest, we're ambitious and in the words of the Independent Schools Inspectorate - we're excellent at what we do.
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The history behind St Patrick's Day
This week's Assembly by the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors was brilliant in many ways. Not only did they tell a pretty complicated story with some wonderful acting and very confident speaking, they also conveyed some really touching messages about the ways we should treat each other.
St Patrick was brilliantly conveyed as someone who began life unaware of their privilege, but through the experience of being captured and living as a slave, realised even after escaping that he had something valuable to bring to the people of Ireland, as he returned to spread God's word.
The children's production was excellent with some smashing comic turns from the kidnappers and sheep. Despite the laughs, their message was clear, that we can learn from reflection and that sometimes forgiving the things that have been done to you can be the hardest part. Holding onto hurt or anger can be instinctive, but moving past it to treat people as you would like to be treated takes real strength.
It perfectly portrayed our St Bernard's message - that we can have frank conversations - but every day we also make sure to turn over a new page and learn from the days that have gone before.
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Let them eat Pi!
Our Head of Maths, Mrs Whittaker has been in heaven for the past week with not one but two celebratory maths days.
This week it was World Pi Day on 14 March and she made sure she cooked up all kinds of exciting Pi based activities for our children including the annual Pi off competition, where participants competed to see how far they could recite the digits of Pi. This year the trophy went to Arjan - congratulations!
The Year 6 class also enjoyed saving a princess by completing work about circumferences and areas of circles, finding their Pi birthday and then even enjoyed apple pie for lunch, courtesy of our chef, Louis.
Mrs Whittaker also found the time to write a few lines about the parallels between music and numbers. She explains how she uses her classical music background to show that if something hasn’t stuck, just like a rehearsal for a concert, students can rewind and have another go.
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Lab coat competition winners
It was an all-female line up in our lab coat design competition with some amazing entries coming in across the school.
EY2 received a joint prize for their excellent collective efforts - I particularly loved the spider and the brain on their design.
Across the other years the winners were:
Sanya - Prep (Y1), Myra - Upper Prep (Y2), Mia - Lower Trans (Y3),
Cristina - Trans (Y4), Meraya - Upper Trans (Y5) and Ruby - Remove (Y6)
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Further maths news - competition results out now!
Across the country 58,000 children took part in the Pimary Maths Challenge in November 2022. Of those children, 3,700 pupils scoring 20 and above were invited to take part in the Bonus Round in February 2023.
Of the 3,024 results returned to us an incredible 67 children achieved full marks with the boundaries for gold silver and bronze awards as follows.
Bronze - 20-21 - 687 pupils in England
Silver - 22-23 - 441 pupils in England
Gold - 24-25 - 196 pupils in England
Of our entrants we saw Anish, Arjan and Aryaman take home Bronze, Hailee and Siddhant take home Silver and Oscar take home Gold. Brilliant, brilliant news!
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What a cracking day yesterday at our annual Catholic Schools Sports Festival. Brilliant competitive netball & football played by our Year 6s & all our visitors, with our girls landing the netball prize & @stanthonyslough winning the football Thanks for the refs @StBernardsCGS https://t.co/Zli3qkqDCp1 day ago
Follow
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Sign Language Week superstars
We took to social media this week to wish the world Happy Sign Language week - with the help of two of our lovely Early Years children Lauren and Melia.
Signing is a really important part of the way we teach at St Bernard's Prep - as it helps to embed the communication skills needed to really help phonics sink in. Sometimes, finding the sign for something can be easier than bringing the word to mind.
I just love the effort our girls put into learning this wonderful greeting for the world.
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Science Week spotlight
This week Year 4 were making connections with the world as part of British Science Week.
They enjoyed a carousel of activities, blood composition, changing state with bees wax, using a microscope to work scientifically and looking at our solar system.
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All about pointillism
Year 3 have been learning all about pointillism - using tiny dots to make beautiful pictures. They were trying to recreate this gorgeous masterpiece of a tree by George Seurat.
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Your special achievements
Dea in Year 4 has a couple of fantastic achievements under her belt this week - in her swimming gala she gained two first places, and one second place prizes and she also passed her Piano prep test. Good work, Dea!
Pranay in Upper Prep B received player of the match on Sunday at Slough Rugby Club. Pranay has been working very hard and listening to his coach and putting his skills to good use - the coach was very happy and impressed with his performance.
Jiya also in Year 4 gained the 'Star of the Week' certificate at Athena Angels Gymnastics club. Jiya has been working very hard and doing lot of practice. The instructors were really happy and impressed with Jiya's performance and effort.
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Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!
Year 1 had the ultimate sensory experience this week as they boarded an imaginary train and set off to the seaside.
They wore their shorts and t-shirts and played in the sand, trying on snorkels and flippers and even encountering a crab in the classroom beach.
The lovely day was rounded off with a visit from the ice cream van! Roll on summer, I say.
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Mr B's sport report
Under 10s football tournament at Claire's Court
Last Friday our Under 10A football team travelled to Maidenhead to participate in the annual Claire’s Court Tournament. Our team put up a very good effort throughout the day against very strong opposition. We progressed through to the Plate Final against Court House Primary, and with the final score at 0-0 we were sent into a penalty shoot-out.
Unfortunately, we lost this tussle 4-5. We were delighted with our performance as runners-up in the section. Well done to all our players for an outstanding effort throughout the day.
Slough Catholic Schools Sports Festival
On Wednesday 15th March, St Bernard’s Prep hosted the Slough Catholic Primary Schools Netball and Football Festival. St Anthony’s, Our Lady of Peace and St Bernard’s Prep all participated. This was a wonderful showcase of primary school sport and all the teams produced some exciting play and many goals.
We were crowned overall champions of the netball, while St Anthony’s won the football. We look forward to hosting this event again next year with even more schools participating.
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The Big Skip update!
We're doing enormously well across the school with fundraising and a whopping £397 has already been donated to CAFOD to support those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Between all of the children we have completed around 40,000 skips. Mr Barendse, our Head of PE has a message for you all at home, too. He said: "The Big Skip has been fantastic – both raising money for a great cause and increasing everyone’s fitness levels. It can be a tricky skill to master, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a brilliant way of improving coordination, aerobic fitness and muscle strength.”
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Upcoming dates
Monday 20 March - Early Years Mother's Day Breakfast 7:30am - 8:00am
Wednesday 22 March - Early Years Stay and Play
Friday 24 March - Lower Trans K Assembly and Second Hand Uniform Sale
Monday 27 March - Bikeability
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Tulsi's weekly book review
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Mrs Verma's big ideas for curious minds
As a school we love to stretch and challenge our children, to enrich their education beyond the curriculum. Every week I will be sharing with you some discussion topics, new vocabulary, maths riddles and book recommendations, that will imbue our children with a love of learning.
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Word of the week: Tenacious (adj)
Holding fast
"She had a tenacious grip on life, not much could get her down."
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In the news this week - Apes make themselves dizzy for fun
A new study has been looking into how and why apes deliberately spin round and round to make themselves dizzy.
If you enjoy spinning, whirling and swizzling around it could be a leftover from your ape ancestors!
The behaviour was noticed after a video of a male gorilla spinning in a pool went viral.
The research team at University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham analysed that clip, plus loads more videos, and found gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans all spin.
The scientists think apes do this because they like the way it lifts their mood and senses - they do it because it's fun!
They think it could tell us something about early human behaviour too.
Story credit: Newsround
Image credit: Getty Images
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“Start by doing the necessary, then the possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible” - St Francis of Assisi
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I hope you have all enjoyed hearing our marvellous news - and that we might inspire you to pick up a rope and start skipping, or perhaps even head off for a breezy beach day! Have a wonderful weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs A Verma
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